As fall settles in and temperatures begin to drop, it’s an ideal time to take advantage of Arlington County’s beautiful parks and outdoor spaces. Spending time outside is especially important during the shorter, cooler days of the season, and is a great way to boost your mood, reduce stress, and clear your mind. Whether you’re searching for a peaceful lunch spot or looking to incorporate some fresh air into your daily commute, Arlington offers plenty of hidden gems to explore. In fact, Arlington Parks and Recreation recently won a 2025 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Parks and Recreation Management. Below, ATP’s Business Development Managers highlight some of their favorite local parks and share how these spaces can enhance your commute and brighten your day.
Gateway Park
Jake Reiman, ATP Employer Manager
An outdoor space I’ve particularly enjoyed since moving to Arlington has been Gateway Park. Located right next to Key Bridge and serving as one of the first sights commuters see when entering Rosslyn from Georgetown, it’s a prime lunch spot for those working in the area. The vibrant outdoor space offers a variety of amenities that make it ideal for a midday break, including drinking fountains, restrooms, and free Wi-Fi provided by the Rosslyn Business Improvement District.
Gateway Park also serves as a vibrant hub for community engagement, hosting popular annual events in its amphitheater such as the Rosslyn Jazz Fest, Bike to Work Day, and outdoor movie nights. One of my favorite features is the dog park, a popular spot among local pet owners and a perfect place to unwind after a long day while giving my dog, Ripley, a chance to exercise and socialize.
Bon Air Park
Chloe Wade, ATP Multifamily Residential Manager
What makes Bon Air Park my favorite is the Memorial Rose Garden. It has more than 120 different varieties of roses, with pathways to stroll through and benches if you want to sit and relax. There are a few other gardens there that are maintained by the Master Gardeners of Arlington to use as teaching tools for local gardeners and programs. The 24-acre park also has playgrounds, picnic areas, tennis courts, and a path. If you go on a weekend when there’s nice weather, you’ll often see people gathered for a picnic or birthday party, taking photos, playing next to the stream, or even getting married!
You can get there easily by biking on the Washington & Old Dominion or Custis Trail, or take the A58, F60, or F61 Metrobus lines, which all stop directly in front of the park. Four Mile Run Trail also goes through the park, and if you follow it south it’ll take you to my second favorite park in Arlington: Bluemont Park!
Glencarlyn Park
Ellie Heil, ATP Employer Manager
My favorite park in Arlington is Glencarlyn Park, tucked between the Arlington Forest and Glencarlyn neighborhoods. Out of all of Arlington’s many green spaces, Glencarlyn Park has something everyone can enjoy, gives you the feeling you’ve disconnected from the urban environment, and is well connected to other parts of Arlington.
Within the park, connected by the Four Mile Run Trail, there’s a playground, dog park, as well as areas for grilling and large gatherings. The natural elements of the park are my favorite! The park gives the sense that you have escaped the city between the winding creek, natural trails through the woods, and plenty of deer, birds, and other animals. A stone's throw away on the Washington & Old Dominion Trail is Sparrow Pond where you can usually see ducks, turtles, and frogs. From Glencarlyn Park you can easily get to the Long Branch Nature Center, Arlington Mill Community Center, Bluemont Park and Rose Garden, as well as Arlington’s major arterials like Wilson Boulevard, Carlin Springs Road, and Columbia Pike. Glencarlyn Park is a perfect pit stop for anything in between meeting up with friends on your active commute after work or exploring on the weekends.
Freedom Park
Michael Morris, ATP Multifamily Residential Manager
My favorite park in Arlington is Freedom Park, located just a short walk from the Rosslyn Metro Station, which is served by the Orange, Blue, and Silver lines. The park is linear and offers an open space with paved walkways, inventive landscaping, and plenty of benches. It features unique amenities, including a concrete ping-pong table, and is designed to be accessible for both pedestrians and cyclists, with bike racks available throughout.
Beyond its recreational features, the park carries an important historical and cultural presence. Past displays have included a bronze casting of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birmingham jail-cell door, a casting of a South African ballot box from the apartheid era, pieces of the Berlin Wall, and the Journalists Memorial, which honors reporters, editors, photographers, and broadcasters who lost their lives while reporting the news.
Gravelly Point
Mark Pacumio, ATP Employer Manger
For those who enjoy the sight of planes taking off and touching down, there really is no better location in Arlington than Gravelly Point. Located just north of Reagan National Airport (DCA), I would love to recommend this location to out-of-town guests who may have some extra time to spend before getting on their return flights.
In addition to the constant flow of planes taking off and landing, I also enjoy the great views of Washington, DC and the Potomac. If you ever get tired of looking up at the sky, the river is bound to have plenty of boats sailing by as well. The ambiance is great and makes for a nice lunchtime spot for those who work nearby in the Crystal City and Pentagon City neighborhoods. It's also located right off the Mount Vernon Trail so those walking or biking along the scenic route to work can enjoy the plane-spotting (or boat-spotting) during their commute. There's even a Capital Bikeshare station located at the park to make it even easier to access.
How ATP Can Help
In short, Arlington is home to a wide variety of parks that can enhance your commute while offering a perfect opportunity to relax and recharge. ATP’s Business Development Mangers have highlighted some of their favorite outdoor spots, along with some of their great features and amenities to make the most out of these outdoor spaces. Whether you’re looking to add fresh air to your routine or simply need a mental reset during the day, there are many easy ways to incorporate these green spaces into your daily life.
A great first step that ATP can help with is finding out whether your employer offers a benefit for active commuting, such as biking or walking. These incentives can make it even more rewarding to include Arlington’s parks in your daily route. ATP offers several helpful guides to support your commute and encourage exploration of Arlington’s parks. These include our Regional Transportation Guide, as well as resources highlighting local landmarks and memorials, such as the Iwo Jima Memorial and Arlington Cemetery.
Whether you’re using them as part of your commute or just taking a midday break to clear your mind, Arlington’s parks offer the perfect escape to refresh and recharge.
Photo Credit: Chris Teale/arlnow.com; www.studio39.com; www.pikenotes.com; www.arlington.org; www.tripadvisor.com